9-7-2022

Good Morning All,

              1 Thessalonians 5:11; “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

       I remember back to my track and field days.  I was a thrower; I threw the shot put and the discus.  Rarely, very, very rarely, did I run.  The thing I remember was that our coach always wanted us to stand around the inside of the track when we were not participating in our event.  He wanted us to cheer on and encourage the runners as they ran.  We were there to tell them to keep going, keep running, they were gaining on the runner ahead of them.  We were to tell them their time as they ran and encourage them to keep running, to keep striving for the victory line.  I always wondered about this, was it valuable or not.  I had the runners tell me that it helped.  The words of encouragement lifted them a little.  It didn’t always make them run faster, but it made them feel better as there were people cheering them and supporting them as they ran.  They said they didn’t feel so alone in the struggle to continue to run the distance.

    Encouragement is one of the greatest things we, as Christians, can provide for each other.  It is one of the most basic elements of our life together.  It costs us nothing and yet provides so much.  To hear from another Christian a word of support or encouragement lifts the spirit of the one who is under duress.  It might be someone who is battling an illness or some struggle within a relationship.  It might be an attack for bring a Christian and finding yourself ostracized from a job or a career.  One may even be held accountable in a court of law because of your faith.  It may even reach a point such as exists in foreign lands where death because of your faith is a strong possibility.  Any event, from mild to extreme, can cause one to suffer and to experience pain in some measure.  God tells us to encourage one another.  Offer prayers for those who are in need of encouragement; personally, if possible.  Offer them words of support and encouragement as often as possible and give them physical aid if you are able.

    The devil uses these attacks in an attempt to separate you from God.  The devil seeks to lead you astray.  The devil seeks to make you think that you are alone and abandoned by your family, your friends, your church and above all by God.  It is one of the devil’s best tools.  The devil loves to lie to you and to lead you away from God’s loving embrace.  This is why God encourages us to encourage one another.  There is strength in numbers and there is strength in unity.  If we stand together, all of us, we are mightier than the devil because of Jesus’ victory over him.  We must remain safely in God’s protective arms shielded by his mercy and grace.  God gives his Church strength in the unity of faith and the power of the Spirit.  When you see someone falling behind or suffering from attacks; encourage them with God’s good grace and lift them up so they may continue steadfast and faithful in God’s mercy.

Father, help me to encourage my brothers and sisters.  Lead me to those who need me and lead those to me who I need.  Lead us to lift each other up in prayer, in hope, in action and in deed.  Lead us to care for those who are under attack from the world.  Guide us to encourage them to continue to stay close to you.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret